20 Facts about me - Part 2

In keeping with the #UgBlog challenge, here are the second set of 10 facts about me –


11.                        I am a Mwirian

S-N-A-R-L.

I studied at Busoga College Mwiri and I have never regretted it. It was while at Mwiri (whose logo is the Leopard and hence the SNARL), that I honed my passion for God and leadership. I also made some of my best friends there. Men (and women who either visited us or got to know us) who have continued to have such a positive impact on me to date. Mwiri taught me that all men are born equal and (just like Rotary shows) regardless of your status in life, we are all part of this amazing journey called life. I have met exemplary leaders and givers in and because of Mwiri. I remain a very proud alumnus of the school.

12.                        Friends are special to me

Yes. I love making new friends. There is a special joy that comes with that. Talking to and discovering nuances never known before. I boast of having a number of friends but I have lost a few along the way. I am however learning that they are always more to make. I still have a few childhood friends including one who I met today after almost three decades. I have been blessed with amazing friends around me. Some are givers, others are encouragers. Some are protectors and others are protected. Some have opened up doors for me to achieve greatness and others have helped me survive storms I would never have managed on my own. I treasure them and I mourn those who have either passed on or disappeared. 

13.                         Animals are special to me 

I have a soft spot for the fauna of this world. Be it in the wild as well as in our homes. No need to mention the types. This doesn’t mean all of them are that attractive. In my early years, I thought I would be a veterinary doctor. Today I am settled for those I can visit, those that run away when they see me, those that I can keep, and those that occasionally grace my dinner plate.

14.                        I teach, practice and consult in Law

The law plays a special part in society. I belong to that crop of professional that thinks it is the most important. However, COVID 19 shows that there are more essential services than ours, or did they get it wrong? There is a court case waiting to be heard soon. We hope it will classify us as essential service providers. It is clear that in this season, many people need our services as reports of torture by some security personnel who are implementing the Presidential Directives are very disturbing.  That said, I am conducting online classes for my law students and the consulting has not ended – including –sadly- a divorce petition. 

15.                        Mentorship

Under the theme, Manhood Versus Maleness, I often conduct mentorship classes for primarily the boy child (red the male student at the University), although the ladies have since convinced us to include them in these discussions. We are planning an online one soon

16.                        Dressing

Whereas COVID 19 has allowed us to grow our beards and hair, I love dressing up well. This might have something to do with my profession but I am inspired by others as well

17.                        I am a Rotarian

Philanthropy is my passion and I have found a vehicle through which this can be done. Rotary International.  The mission of Rotary is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. I belong to the Rotary Club of Kampala North and have served as its Youth Services Director. I will, starting this July serves as Director for Membership (which will focus on retaining, caring, and growing our membership). There are also other angles like the Y.O.L.O (You Only Live Once) Missional Community of my local church as well as the Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity

18.                        I am a poet

For such a long time, I have written and compiled poetry. There is something special about it. I hope to release my Anthology soon. Look out for it. Cheers. 

19.                        I love adventure and travel 

Yes. I love discovering new places and visiting old cities. Museums also have a special place in my heart since I am a historian. The Museum in Dar es Salaam is very rich. It was quite a surprise when I visited it. We must treasure our own stuff and boast about them. Nonetheless, I would love to visit Israel and Egypt with my family and friends one day. Saving up.

20.                        I love to read, write and blog

From my early childhood, I was very fascinated with the written word. I read many books and have slowly grown my own treasured collection.

20 Facts about me- Part One

20 FACT ABOUT ME-

In keeping with the #UgBlog challenge, here are the first 10 facts about me –

1.     I love Jesus and He loves me more

Yes, I do. If anything truly means anything to me, or if there is anything I can even boast about, it is the fact that Jesus loves me

2.     Nature is my friend and passion

Trees, vegetation, plains, mountains, and valleys. The wild. The farms. All these bring me a lot of joy and peace. A visit to a forest, a swamp with its cooling water (and the sound of the cooling water), all contribute to one of my best moments in life. 

3.     Leadership is my calling

I feel it in my bones, I write about it and offer myself when I feel the call to lead. I remain a student of leadership and learn each day, how I should be a better leader. Currently, I am running a leadership book club with some young energetic people. I love their enthusiasm and wish them the very best in this leadership journey. I am also under instruction by many mentors who I truly honour. I currently lead at Scripture Union Uganda, Uganda Law Society, Uganda Christian Lawyers' Fraternity amongst others. I am also a pundit on television and radio shows on matters concerning good governance, constitutionalism and the rule of law. 

4.     I am an author

Finally, the book is out and a few people have become proud owners of it. After COVID 19, I hope to print more copies for distribution. The book is entitled We do not Teach that at the University: Confessions of a University Don

5.     I am a husband

Yes. I am a proud one at that. There is so much I can say about Clare. She is an inquisitive, caring, hardworking, and awesome human being. She loves ceaselessly and gives so generously of all she has. She is actually annoyingly generous and I have ended up learning from her. It has been a great journey of learning and adjusting. It gets better with the years. What comes to mind is the way in which pearls are formed. Pearls are made by oysters as they try to accommodate foreign bodies that enter their shell, in a bid to prevent it from damaging their fragile bodies. The end result is a precious pearl. This is also the case with marriage. As we try each day to accommodate each other, something beautiful comes through.

6.     I am a father

Recently, I posted a picture of the young lady that appointed me Father. Damita is an awesome lady in her teens and yes we have our battles but hey what a joy it is to ‘fight’ with your employer.  She and her siblings have made our home complete and warm especially in this time as we wait out the COVID 19 scare. As parents, we are super honored to be blessed with these babies. May the Lord give us the wisdom to look after them well. It is our prayer that they will reach their ultimate potential in life and leave this Universe a far better place than they found it

7.     I am a son

An amazing Mother is her son’s Kryptonite. So is my Ma – who now prefers to be called Kaaka Amooti (Grandma Amooti). She is quite a hard-working woman and very selfless. I have never seen her waste a single moment except to rest. She is full of energy and such a caring person. As a nurse, I have seen her care for her patients and as a woman with green fingers, I have seen even the most pathetic of plants flourish at her touch. She has also taught me to always be grateful. I love her to bits

8.     I am a brother

The pages here are too small to describe life as a middle child. There is always something to learn from your elder brothers and a lot to do for the younger siblings. I recall my big brother Robert carrying me on his shoulders to take me to Sunday School at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero. In my childhood memory, I keep believing that he is the one who helped me lard the Lord’s Prayer. May his soul rest in peace. Then one of my brothers Peter gave me my nickname and the other one Musinguzi, a journalist, was such a great storyteller, I never read the Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth after he narrated it to me.  When I watched the movie later in life, I knew the whole story. My relationship with my sisters must have contributed to making me more concerned about the plight of women generally and the girl child in particular. I have been able to learn, from my family, (and now as a father) to be more considerate of the uniqueness of ladies. Preparing for and then taking my younger sisters to school and the hospital, standing up to bullies (with my -then- tiny frame), looking out for them, walking them down the aisle have all been very priceless moments for me. Now that they are married and are mothers, the responsibilities change but a brother I remain.

9.     I love reading the Bible

If ever there was any book that has influenced my life, my culture, my innermost being, it is the Bible. There is always something new that I learn each time I read it or listen to it using various apps that have been developed. Wisdom, peace, joy, happiness, and focus for life can only be found in this great book.

10.                        I am a Christian

The Bible teaches me that for GOD so loved me that He gave His one and only begotten son to die for my sins and in so doing, create a relationship between God and I. Being a Christian doesn’t mean I am better than the next man. It means that I treasure my great relationship with God. I learn about Him each day when I read the word – especially that part that says that He loves me and it is not about how hard I work to make myself holy or better, but it is about HIS grace and unfailing love. He loves me regardless of my shortcomings and I am in Him and He is with me always. My failures are aplenty but His grace is immeasurable.

(To be continued)